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South Korean archaeologists have discovered a sunken vessel packed with ancient pottery, in an exploration prompted by an octopus which attached its suckers to a plate.

The 12th-century wooden vessel was found buried in mud flats off Taean, southwest of Seoul, the National Maritime Museum said.

More than 2,000 pieces of 12th-century bowls, plates and other types of pottery were heaped inside the 7.7 meter (25-foot) vessel, it said.

The exploration began in early June after shards of celadon pieces were found attached to the suckers of several webfoot octopuses which a fisherman had netted.

The museum has since retrieved about 540 pieces, which were scattered around the vessel. Several shipwrecks filled with relics including ancient pottery have been found along the west coast, where many kilns were established in the Koryo era.